Banner Photo

May 20:

The Farm is really greening up. Plants are breaking into buds and flowers, under our ever watchful eye. Buffalo Gal, a rose we brought with us from North Dakota, is covered with buds and today she presented us with her 1st flower.

Irises began blooming yesterday. And we were not surprised that the 1st to flower were Irises from Melanie's 2 Grandmas (Ethel and Dorothy, who have both passed). I noted that the Yellow Columbine is also breaking into flower. And the Bleeding Heart just continues to throw out cascades of flowers.

We got 1 inch of rain last night. We did lose a few limbs, but otherwise, the countryside is in that luscious, after rain, spring-moving-into summer, green.

I do remember that my Dad, when he came to our Farm in 2007 just 2 months before he passed, said: "This is paradise. When I go to Heaven, I want to come here." It surely is beautiful here. The landscapes are radiant.

And the Hummingbirds, with all their energy, have just arrived. They buzz about. I don't know how they have all that energy. They wintered in the Yucatan, crossed the Gulf on those tiny wings, and now are setting up home here. I supposed you could say, they are setting up home just like us.

All this makes a perfect backdrop for wedding preparations and for the wedding itself. Is this for real?

About this Blog

Melanie, Glinda, and Richard Crawford share reflections on our journeys to walk paths where the future matters from our new home on Butterfly Hill Farm. That includes recognizing the sacredness of life, living sustainably and simply, reclaiming family history and traditions, growing our own food. We humbly offer this as our story seeking meaning and not as a cookie cutter for others lives. We invite the sharing of your journeys as well.

Photos

Except in very specific circumstances, all photos depicted here were taken on our Farm. Those circumstances off the Farm relate to the purposes of this Farm and this writing exploration. Almost all were taken by 1 of the 3 C's. If not, I try to make sure others are credited. I (Glinda) am usually the one carrying the camera, but not always.

I do my best to gain permissions of Folks whose pictures are shown on this Blog. If for any reason, you are pictured and would like your photo removed, just let me know. Thanks.

Visits to this Blog

Glinda

...began her professional career as a Home Economist, later serving as a Home Economics Teacher Educator for 2 decades. In 1995, she moved into analyzing the Human Side of Environmental Issues. She went from studying Humans in their Little Homes to studying Humans in their Big Home, the Earth. Those 2 leggeds were, after all, creating a substantial problem for the Earth, which sustains them. After 30 years in higher education, she became Professor Emerita of Sociology and Interdisciplinary Ecological Studies at the University of North Dakota in 2005.

Glinda has a special interest in analyzing the split Humans have with Nature. Her focus is bringing Humans home to the Earth, opening at long last to the awe, magic, and love of this beautiful Earth whirling in the Great Cosmic Sea. She is a writer, teacher, poet, artist. She is the writer for this Blog, the substance of which will likely become a book she has known she would write.

Richard

...grew up on a 120 acre Farm about 5 miles west of here. Those humble beginnings have had a profound effect on his Life. He was trained as a Wildlife Biologist and later responsible for the Wildlife Management Program at the University of North Dakota for over 3 decades. Retiring in 2007, he is a UND Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Biology.

Richard brings to the Farm a lifelong interest in the Natural Sciences (Birds, Wildlife, Prairie Restoration, Ecosystems, Gardening) and the Humanities. As his wife (Glinda) says: "He is one of those few people in our Culture who can still read Nature's story and make it accessible to those around him."

Melanie

...would list a bio a little shorter than her Mom and Dad. That's because she hasn't lived quite so long, which is the normal course of such things. But her bio would be no less interesting and perhaps even more so. She has come to this work and this walk far earlier than her Mom or Dad.

Melanie has an interest in healthy lifestyles. It's not something you read about; it's something you do. She brings her love of life, her travel near and far, her love of people known and unknown, her playful curiosity, and her knowing to Gardening, Raising Chickens, Herbal Healing, and the Culinary Arts. She makes a place for Kids of all Ages on this Little Farm.

This Blog includes my exploration (with others alongside) as we seek to gather Family Stories. I have long since known that I cannot completely know who I am or where I am until I reflect on where I came from and those who came before.

Our adventures on ...

In May 2007, we 3 partners (Glinda, Richard, Melanie Crawford) moved to this little acreage in northeast Missouri. We believe life is a sacred gift and we intend to live that practice in this space. This is the story of our journey of exploration and discovery.

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Richard found a Tick on Ladd this morning. The Little Critter was stuck on Ladd the Dog and it was full. Admittedly, the 1st Tick of the season is a marker which we 3 Humans are not particularly thrilled about, but it is a marker none the less. The Tick was probably pretty excited about the Spring. Maybe that Tick was just as excited about Spring as we 3 C's. Now that is something to ponder.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Those 1st 3 1/2 years here, we worked pretty much 24/7. If we weren't working on the Farm or attending to other obligations, we were thinking about it. Yes, this shift in life styles was mostly new for us, so we had a lot to attend to. The learning curve was steep. Yes, we loved each and every minute of it.

But we got worn down. Working hard over the long haul takes its toll. Not only is the energy less, but the creative insights and our resiliency become constrained. Our major insight early in this year was to build in rest and play for the 3 C's.

For starters, we designated February as our month to rest. Yes, we had some things on the front burner during that time and they needed our attention. But we didn't take anything more on. Winter is the normal cycle of rest in Nature. Gardeners and Farmers need that in preparation for some pretty intense growing and harvesting Seasons ahead. We also agreed that we would cut back on some things for this growing season.

These days, we have added 2 sessions of Yoga and 1 round of Meditation each week. Sunday is now officially our day of rest. We try to build in personal time/rest time for each of us into every day. These little changes feel good. We can feel the energy returning.

Our Western model is an ever expanding growth model. The assumption is that if you did well today, you can do better and more tomorrow. That model forgets that we have a fixed set of resources and that we need to protect and replenish those resources. That certainly fits for insights on Human inputs, but it surely fits when thinking about our Great Mother, the Earth too.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Richard's nephew Bobby and his wife Jodi had a Fish Fry over at the Crawford Family Farm last Saturday night. Deleta had called to let us know about the doin's. Quite a crowd had gathered, which included Family and more besides The Food and Company were great.

We are rarely all 3 gone from the Farm. We really don't even like to leave the peace and tranquility of the Farm, Richard especially. It's just too special here to be gone for long. Plus, we don't like to leave the Animals. There's Varmints about and there are chores besides.

When we returned, Richard noted Horse and Buggy tracks on our drive. We were sorry we missed our company. After we settled in, he opened the back door and discovered that the Visitors had left fresh Homemade Bread between the backdoors. We just smiled.

The thought that a Neighbor Family had taken time to make Bread for us and stop by was very special indeed. We weren't sure who it was, but today found out that our Amish Neighbor Meno had dropped it by. The thought that Bobby and Jodi (with lots of help) had offered a Fish Fry at their place was really special too.

I remember Nancy Burrows used to have a bumper sticker that said "Support Random Acts of Kindness". I would agree. Such acts just make our World a better and more loving place. Now that's the kind of World I choose to create and I choose to live in too.~~~~http://www.randomactsofkindness.org/

Today was a beautiful and busy day. The temperature was warm, yet cool underneath. The Sun was warm but filtered and soft. The Garden Soil was soft, somewhat moist and very easy to work. All that work on the raised beds and Compost is reaping rewards.

Melanie continued cleaning her Garden Beds in preparation for planting. She pushed aside the Straw, then pulled weeds and winter debris. Then she tossed the weeds and winter debris out to the Chickens who were delighted. Since Straw may be in short supply this summer, she carefully placed the Straw back on the beds. We use a lot of straw as Mulch and for Garden Paths.

I tidied up the Flower Bed which is on the way into the big Garden. I noted with delight that Marcia's Mums and the Prairie Sage are thriving. It was like greeting Old Friends. Daffodils are poking up with some Flower Buds emerging. Plus, the Tulips that Aunt Ruthie sent Mother last Spring are poking up through the Soil. I was really tickled about that. I still have a little work in this bed, but it looks a lot better.

Meanwhile, Richard was planting Potatoes (Pontiacs and Kennebecs) and Onions (Candy and Walla Walla). I helped here too. He readied the raised beds for these root crops on this "root day". He planted 16 pounds of Potatoes and put 4 pounds in the refrigerator for fall planting. We love Fall Potatoes. They have been our greatest success in planting Potatoes. We don't want to use them all up in the Spring.

He planted 11 bundles of supposedly 50 Onion Plants. That's 550 Onions. We love Onions. When almost complete, he counted one of the bundles and found 100 in it, instead of 50. So just maybe, he planted 1100 Onions. We love Onions.

Melanie planted Parsnips, Radishes and Kohlrabi in her clean Garden Beds. She checked her notes from last year and concluded that we are a little ahead of the game of Gardening this season. That was a surprise, since we thought we were behind.

She discovered that we were beginning to put the Cabbages outside for little protected excursions at this time last year. I laughed. I forgot we were supposed to do that. Cabbages are my responsibility. Of course, hardening off is essential to their success. I talked with the Cabbages and let them know that they could go outside tomorrow.

I cruised by one of the raised beds and discovered we have lots of Lettuce Seedlings emerging. And I mean lots which also seems like quite a variety. We discovered 2 years ago that letting Lettuce go to seed produces Seedlings and Plants both in the Fall and Spring. It's like letting Nature do the work in the way that She best knows how. We like that.

By the end of the day, we were feeling pretty good about our progress. We got a lot done. I think we were pretty much working like "clockwork". Richard commented that he didn't even feel tired or stretched, which so often happens those 1st excursions into the Garden. I would have to agree. We each one tended to garden tasks, working intently but not wearing ouselves out. That's a good start to Garden Season 2011.

Today, 13 month old Shivani took her 1st Steps upon the Earth. I could see her noticing, noticing, noticing. She kept looking down. Other times, she seemed to be sensing those new feelings beneath her feet. Sometimes, she would fall and she would bring up something new and magical to notice and share.

What an amazing celebration it was to be a part of this, her special day of 1st steps upon the Earth. I wonder how different our lives would be if we would walk upon the Earth and always feel that 1st day. Surely, we would be present in the World that sustains us in a very different way. A kind of Awe and Magic would permeate the core of our being. Perhaps we taller and older ones have some remembering to do.

Today was our special day to celebrate the Spring Equinox. Keren, Beth, Amanda, Adam, Deborah and Shivani joined us. Melanie announced that the Guests were arriving via Wagon pulled by sturdy Horses Solomon and Muse. I cannot express how filled with Joy I am when I see the Horses and Wagon (or Buggy) coming down our drive. That little Kid (who always wanted a Horse but never had one) just dances for Joy.

We spend a bit of time relaxing and connecting. Then we head to the table. I ask 2 questions and we have 2 rounds of responses: (1) What have you seen/felt that marks that beautiful shift of Winter into Spring? There's just no denying it. (2) That Life Force of the Earth is coming through every living thing. Buds on Trees, Shells on Eggs, and hard coverings on Seeds are broken open because that energy cannot be denied.

We Humans are not so different. We have little protective shells around us that we break through as the Life Force surges through us. In a word, phrase, or headline, what is an example of that New Life that is emerging through you?

We talk about the dishes that we each brought to the Feast. Richard made 3 forms of Lasagna with differences inbetween. All I remember in the moment was that he brought meat and vegetarian. The noodles were Gluten Free. Keren brought a beautiful Salad. Amanda brought Sour Dough Bread (whose original start was carried by Katrina from Tuscany Italy), Melanie brought Deviled Eggs, Deborah brought Garbanzos with carmelized Onions. Plus, Richard gathered Herbs and Shredded Carrots for garnish. To the greatest extent possible, the Food came from the Land and much of it was from this Season (including wild edibles). And I set the table with Mother's lovely dishes. We are richly blessed.Wren Song Folks offered a blessing of Song. Then we began to dish up and settle in. I always enjoy this stage of a Meal. Deep quiet and contentment seem to descend as Folks dig in.Afterwards, we went out for a walk on the Land. We walked around the Paths that Richard has created. We managed to find and enjoy each of the Benches along the Way.And then, it was time for Dessert. Keren made lovely Custard from Goat Milk, Eggs, and Goat Cheese. Melanie had made a wonderful Carrots Cake which she placed on the Cake Stand that was her Great Grandmother's. That Hybiscus Bloom opened just in time.We relaxed a while longer, enjoying conversation and company. Then Amanda announced it wasa time to head back. Once again, Solomon and Muse were ready and up to the task.What a glorious day.

Today we were blessed with 21 lovely Brown Eggs, Gifts from our lovely Hennies. What you see here is actually the Blessings of 2 days of Eggs from the Hennies. The tilted Egg marks the breakpoint between the 2 days. A month ago on this date, we got 12 Eggs.

The Hennies are picking up steam in laying their beautiful Eggs. Sunlight makes a difference. Plus, we are moving into Spring. Somehow the Hennies know. Aren't the Cycles of Life beautiful to behold? There is so much we don't know and so much we can't know.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

We 3 C's try to stay connected to the 8 Earth Holidays. For some, these Holidays are termed the "turning of the Wheel". So what's that about?

Many Indigenous Peoples believe there is an intimate bond between Humans and the Earth. Both Earth and Humans have a consciousness. Thoughts of Humans can support the continued smooth flowing of the Earth in Her support of Life. Or, when not in sync, Humans' thoughts and actions can disrupt that Life Support of the Earth. As a result, many Peoples Indigenous to this Earth mark special days of the seasonal transitions through Feast, Story Telling, Song, Prayer and Celebration.

The 8 Earth Holidays are generally listed on or about the following:

March 20

May 1

June 21

August 2

September 23

October 31

December 21

February 2

Please note that the Holidays come by many names across many traditions. I find that amazing that so many Peoples of the Earth, in our Differences, would celebrate similar Seasonal shifts of our Shared Home. Interestingly, even though many more self described "modern cultures" do not follow Earth Holidays, those Holidays are often embedded in their practice and may be called by other names. Perhaps even more importantly, typically Humans will note significant changes during that time as well, through their observations of Nature, change in Seasons, and changes in how they feel.

Tomorrow is the Vernal Equinox, which is often described in the West as the "beginning of Spring". For us, the migratory Birds are returning. We saw Pelicans today. I saw Vultures flying in migration today (our former Neighbor here told us that meant Spring was here). Bluebirds are checking out Nest Boxes. Male Cardinals are taking up positions on territory. Nature is full of Spring Sound.The Sun now sets almost due West, although it is a little hard for us to tell because our house doesn't quite sit square with the directions. We are beginning to plant Garden. We planted Peas recently on a "Fruit Day". Potatoes and Onion Sets are patiently waiting on the back porch. Assuming all goes well, we will plant them on Monday, which is a Root Day. We are supposed to get Rain.

We are having a gathering here at the Farm tomorrow as a marker and special celebration of this Day. It is exciting to think that the Cycles of the Earth which support Life are continuing. We are deeply grateful. While such markers of Earth Holidays are relatively new to us, we stand in a place where we wish to be a part of that Prayer for Creation to continue in the way that the Creator intended.

Monday, March 14, 2011

This book is quite the treasure. I have not read it completely. I have about 100 pages left and I can hardly put it down.

The book focuses on "Elnora", an indomitable girl from a difficult childhood coming of age in the Limberlost, a swamp in Northern Indiana in the early 1900s. While I am enjoying the story, I am enjoying equally the descriptions of life in this time period, which parallels when my Grandmother Lottie would have been of similar age. Throughout, Gene Stratton-Porter interweaves wisdom which transcends time and space. In some ways, I think she is speaking to me.

We 3 C's often talk about who we might like to ask for Dinner here on the Farm. It doesn't matter if they are alive or past. I should surely like to invite Gene Stratton-Porter, who was a prolific writer, amateur naturalist, wildlife photographer. Her love of Nature is embedded in this text. She manages to write a rich text which brings the reader right into the story. Her cliff hanger endings for chapters mean that the Reader (that would be me) can hardly put the book down. I am surprised I managed to write this little blog before I completed the work.

I just found a picture from the early 1900s of my Great Grandmother's House, banked by pots of prolific Red Geraniums in the front. They must have been beautiful. Some things are surely meant to be passed down.

In the fall, I gather in the Geranium Plants, just like my Mother taught me (and her Father taught her). I shake off the Soil, and hang them upside down in the dark Basement. In the early Spring, I put them in pots. Over time, the tiniest of Leaves with their characteristic soft gray-green Foliage begin to sprout.

I just don't know how the Geranium does that. It is seems strange to me that the Plants could be out of the Soil for many Months, retain the Life Force, and then be ready to go again. We Humans think we know a lot. But in the grand scheme of things, we know far less than we think.

While I was doing some work in town on this day (March 10), Melanie and Richard headed on a walkabout to check the Cedar Trees for Cedar Apple Rust. At this Season, Cedar Apple Rust is present on the trees in a compact, firm ball-like form. As the Season moves on, the Rust gets bigger and breaks open, distributing fungal spores which infect Apple Trees (Leaves and Fruit), leaving scabby looking spots.

Richard and Melanie carried a plastic bag in which to place all the Cedar Apple Rust they could reach. The ones you see in this bag ranged in size from that of a pea to 2 inches across. The 2 of 3 C's left the bag on the back table for me to take this picture.

After this photo shoot, Richard tied up the bag and put the bag in the garbage. Early next week it will be on its way to the landfill. We try to recycle and compost as much as we can. But we send disease off the Farm.

These days we are focused on the Seedlings we are starting from Seed and tending as Seedlings. If all goes well, these young Plants will be our transplants in the Garden.

We are carefully checking our notes from the past few Gardening Seasons. When do we plant? Which varieties should we plant? And how many should we shoot for?

We note the optimal days for planting according to our Biodynamic Calendar. This day (Wednesday, March 9) was a Fruit Day, so Melanie was planting Peppers after consultation a 3 way consultation between us in regard to what we would most need.

We make sure the Seeds and Seedlings are watered with Rain Water we have gathered from the Downspouts off the Roof of the House. It's too early to put the Rain Barrel out, as we still are having freezes. So Richard puts 5 gallon Buckets out under the south Downspout, before a Rain, when we are having a Snow Melt, and even sometimes after a heavy Frost. At any given time, we may have as many as 5-5 gallon buckets in the House.

Those Plants know the difference between Rain Water and City Water. City Water, with all of its chemicals and processing, just doesn't do it for them. The Plants seem to luxiurate in Rain Water. Now that's the kind of start we want for them.

Lately, we seem to have had a lot of Gray Days. It has been overcast and cold. We put our Seedlings in the South Windows of the House where they usually do quite well. However, in these low light conditions, they just have kind of sat there. Some have even "dampened off". That happened with the Pansies and some of the Leeks.

The relationship of Plants to Sunlight kind of reminds me of the Humans. We Humans don't seem too active without Sunlight either. Maybe we aren't so different after all.

We check the Seedlings 3 to 4 times a day. We want to make sure they have adequate Water and growing conditions. We usually turn the Flats 180 degrees to make sure all the Seedlings are getting an even amount of Sunlight and that they grow relatively straight up. We also run our hands across them very gently.

Some Wise Person once told us that Plants like that. We also are known to talk to them. We tell them we are grateful they are here. We talk about how strong and vigorous they are. Some days, if we listen quietly, we might just be hearing their voices in return. They are eager for the upcoming growing season. We are too. They are our partners in this little bit of Paradise.

The whole situation reminds me about how most Parents are proud of their Children. They talk about how tall they have grown, what they have done, and what they know. I suppose that situation applies to us too.

On this beautiful early Spring Day, we headed into the Garden. This was our 1st trip into the Garden together after the long Winter, which may still pay some visits to these parts. We each had a Cup of Tea in hand. Melanie had made Peppermint Tea which was grown right in this very Garden. In addition to the Tea, we were laden with contemplative thought. A new Gardening Season is beginning.

We noted anything Green amid the Straw. To our delight, the Garlic is just beginning to poke through the Straw.

We considered where we would plant what. When we got back inside, I checked my notes on rotation, which shows what crops will best follow another. I could do a little more work here.

This day was almost a ritual, even a prayer. The Plants and we Humans have made it through the Winter, for which we are deeply grateful. We look forward to a wonderful time of growing and sharing ahead.

We ordered 1 inch Gravel for our drive. It took 2 Truckloads, each load weighing 51,000 pounds. That means we got 102, 000 pounds of Gravel or 51 tons. Yikes. I suppose you could call that the price of a long drive.

The real price is borne by the Great Mother Earth. The Gravel is mined about 15 miles east of here, just southwest of Edina. I checked the site out on Google Earth. That's a huge scar and it was caused by our Footprint on the Land.

We did order the Gravel during a time of the Waning Moon. Supposedly, that means it will last longer. I suppose you could call it the best that we could do.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Sometimes we Humans cling to outmoded ideas. Clinging to those ideas can get us into trouble. Big trouble.

I come from a culture that is "Anthropocentric". What that means is that my culture views Humans as Center. With this view, all that is non-Human drops away, becomes invisible, is viewed as of little consequence. It is as if the Human is the beginning and the end.

All decisions and actions are made to benefit the Human. And of course those decisions leave out a wide range of Humans too: those unlike self, the poor, those disenfranchised by power, those unborn, to name only a few.

An Anthropocentric view puts Earth living systems in jeopardy. Those with this view see no relationship between the natural world and themselves. In fact they do not see themselves as part of natural world. It is merely there for their use. I remember those maps we saw when I was in elementary school, where places of great beauty and objects of Creation were carved up into something called "resources". I remember crying out as in pain.

Another approach is the "Biocentric" view which considers the interconnectedness of all of Life. In this view, Humans do not see themselves as separate to any of this. Instead, we are interwoven into the thread of life. To honor and protect life is to seek to live for the long haul rather than the shortterm.

We 3 C's seek to live in a way which is Biocentric. We seek to honor that Gift of Life, that Gift of Creation of which we are only a very small part. It isn't easy. To complicate matters, we often find ourselves swimming upstream. But for us, putting Life at Center feels right and good.

Friday, March 4, 2011

This morning, Richard observed that the "Twins" (Fawns from last year) ran out of the woods almost to the Drive. He was concerned something might be after them. And just about then, the School Bus did go by.

But the Twins did not stop. They actually seemed to be playing with each other. And it was a fine day for play. They ran from the Woods to the Drive and back again a total of 4 times. Richard was pretty eager to report of their adventures to Melanie and me. I hope they do this again because I surely don't want to miss it.

We have watched those Twins grow this last year. We first saw them early in the Summer. They are a delight. (I wonder what they might say of us?)

Later in the day, we had a lot of rain. Usually the Chickens head for cover in the Rain. But not today. They were out running and eating throughout the downpour. They were pretty soaked, but seemed quite happy and content.

The Critters on this day seem to be reminding us: "Don't forget to play." I usually try to look for lessons in Nature. Yes, Play is important.

On this beautiful day, we headed for a walk into the Garden. At 1st glance, the place looked pretty brown and dead. Looking more closely, we discovered much magic with plants emerging in many places.

In the Herb Garden, I put my Cup of Tea down for a closer view. Yep, that's Garlic poking its heads up. Vernell's Garlic plants are obviously pretty eager for the Spring. Vernell and her family were neighbors of Richard's family when the boys were growing up. She gave me a start of her Garlic years ago when we were just beginning Gardening up North. When we moved 4 years ago, I was very careful to bring a start with us. So, there it is, all healthy and robust. I think Vernell would be pretty pleased about that. I know that I am.

Looking through the litter of the dead vegetation, I note with glee that Pansies are ready for the new season. As is typical, plants are staying very close to the soil line. Winter has not yet let go of her Grip. Staying hunkered down in the Soil seems like a wise idea.Catnip is up. Melanie found Parsley. Chamomile is up and ready to go. That plants is abundant. I found Cilantro in the Herb Garden. It is big enough to actually make a Mexican supper soon. We smiled.

We found Leeks. This will be their 2nd year, which means they will be making Seeds. I am pretty tickled about that. Melanie found Radicchio. Oregano and Thyme were pretty excited about growing. Mums are sprouting at the base of the plants. The Prairie Smoke is looking robust; it is among the earliest of the Prairie Plants in our Prairie Garden. Richard planted Wheat in the Cane Field as a green manure crop. Garlic is up.Chickens were enjoying their little junkets into the parts of the Garden which were not fenced off. They scratch, leave wonderful poop, and eat bugs and grubs. As always, they were curious about what we were up to, following us on our adventures.Throughout the day and into the mid afternoon, the Chickens were enjoying the dry Soil on the south of the Shed. Dirt Baths were in order. That surely must be a luxury.

These days we are keeping a watchful eye on the Biodynamic Calendar for optimal planting times for Root, Leaf, Flower, Fruit. Yesterday was "Leaf Day". So I planted Cabbage Seeds in my Flat which Richard made for me. The varieties were: Henderson's Charleston Wakefield (good for the South), Danish Ballhead (good for Kraut), Copenhagen Market, Early Jersey Wakefield. My reading suggests that these are varieties do well in the early season. I have another stash held together with a rubber band: "Plantings for Fall Cabbages".

I have to admit: My Cabbage seeds were packed for 2008, 2009, and 2011. I did plant them in abundance. We shall see how things go. We 3 C's specialize in what we grow. Cabbages are my thing. Having never grown them before we moved here, I have a lot to learn. Continuously growing the same crop permits one to focus more on the details emerging over time.

I am by no means an expert. I have hardly dipped my foot into the water. The Cabbages would nod their heads knowingly in agreement. My Cabbages have shown themselves to be patient teachers. I wonder what lessons they have in store for me this year. I shall wait and see.

You will also note that I am potting Coleuses which I had taken as cuttings. Two varieties come from that last year Mother had a garden at her house. They are very special to me.

The 3 C's are not going into this growing season with full energy reserves. Yes, we have planted fewer Seeds and yes, we sometimes are a little slower in getting them started. We are trying to be respectful of the energy reserves that we have. So we are cutting back, which is a good thing. I couldn't give up my Cabbages or my Coleuses.